Establishment of triglyceride cut-off values to detect chylous ascites and pleural effusions

Triglyceride levels are the best parameter to detect chylous body fluids when lipoprotein electrophoresis is not available. Single-point triglyceride cut-offs of 187 and 240 mg/dl (2.13 and 2.74 mmol/l) or alternatively equivocal ranges of 148-246 and 94-240 mg/dl (1.69-2.80 and 1.07-2.74 mmol/l) were established for peritoneal and pleural fluid, respectively.